Former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was formally indicted today in connection with the murder of his friend who was executed less than a mile from the NFL's star's North Attleborough home.

The former New England Patriot was charged in connection with the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd who was allegedly shot five times execution-style on June 17. Hernandez is scheduled to appear in court at 2 p.m.

The Boston Globe and Associated Press reported that Hernandez was indicted on a first degree murder charge.

Prosecutors pushed to get an indictment before today's hearing sources told ABC News. That is significant because without an indictment Hernandez's lawyers would have likely argued for his release.

The Bristol County District Attorney's spokesman Gregg Miliote declined to say anything other than Hernandez would be in court today as scheduled.

Hernandez was arrested on June 26 and has been held without bail in a solitary cell at the Bristol County House of Correction. The indictment comes after prosecutors requested and received a 30-day extension to outline their case to Hernandez's defense attorneys.

Today's expected indictment is the latest development in the ongoing investigation into Hernandez and other incidents the football standout is suspected of involvement in. Soon after the Lloyd killing ABC News learned Boston detectives were investigating whether Hernandez had a role in an unsolved drive-by shooting that left two men dead more than a year ago. That investigation is ongoing prosecutors said.